MotorDeets

Nissan Maxima problems, recalls & best years

The deets on every Maxima from 1990 to 2023: 6,505 owner complaints and 48 recalls across 34 model years.

The model years with the most owner complaints are 2004 (1426), 2005 (948), 2006 (576). Best fuel economy: 25 mpg combined (2018).

Nissan Maxima
Photo: Alistair Fernandez · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Representative photo of this generation; trim may differ.

Problem areas across all years

Transmission & drivetrain2423
Electrical829
Steering510
Engine & cooling500
Airbags500
Engine374
Body & structure333
Suspension331

Year by year

YearRecallsComplaintsBest mpg
1990110620
199117620
1992211020
199337820
199428920
1995015221
199609621
1997110221
1998111321
1999016521
2000036021
2001317222
2002620521
2003320621
20042142621
2005294821
2006257621
2007112921
200807921
2009133922
2010127522
2011010622
2012010722
201306222
201409622
201501–
2016814225
2017410425
201823625
201911824
202012224
20210324
20220524
20230124

Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.

Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the Nissan Maxima.

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Mitchell 1 DIY Online access, factory-level data

Pro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.

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ALLDATAdiy Online access, factory OEM info

OEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.

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Haynes Print book or AllAccess online

Step-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.

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FAQ

What is the worst year for the Nissan Maxima?

The model years with the most owner complaints are 2004 (1426), 2005 (948), 2006 (576).

How many recalls has the Nissan Maxima had?

Across 1990–2023, NHTSA lists 48 vehicle recall campaigns by model year (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year).